New community service is bringing people together at Chalkstone Community Centre in Haverhill

A new community initiative that aims to bring people together over a cuppa and a hot bite to eat is now finding its feet in Haverhill.

Toast, as it is called, is held every Monday during term time at the Chalkstone Community Centre in Strasbourg Square, from 10.30am to midday. It has just been held for the fourth time.

Run by husband and wife Amy and Matt Morton and one volunteer, the River of Life Community Church initiative offers up toast and hot drinks to anyone who attends. It also has newspapers and books to read and a creche for the little ones.

Amy explained the idea: “We wanted to create a space where it’s easy for people to come and meet new people and get to know their community.

Matt and Amy Morton, centre, with other participants at Toast. Picture by Mecha Morton.

“The thing that I really love about it is that everyone and anyone is welcome. We get all kinds of different people. Different ages and different interests.

“Some people just come and chat or some bring their knitting or play games or read the Echo. We get it every week.

“Everybody recognises that we all need community.

“That’s why we are doing it. As a church we really believe that community is important, it’s in our name, the River of Life Community Church.

“We just want to create a space where people feel valued.”

Toast began on January 21, and in the same week the church also launched Chalksters, a group for toddlers and their parents or carers that meets from 10.30am to midday each Thursday.

Amy went on to say: “The whole idea behind this being Toast is that it’s really simple, which means that it is sustainable and very easy to replicate so that other groups out there could put it on for their community.”